Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Corporation, Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 335,169	$ 341,690	$ 263,105
Investing activities
Contributions to tax credit fund	(55,315)	(51,011)	(59,645)
Return of equity investment in tax credit fund	2,579	1,619	37,652
Other investing	(697)	(1)	1,347
Net cash used in investing activities	(246,514)	(236,216)	(229,164)
Financing activities
Draws on credit facility	254,000	228,000	25,000
Payments on credit facility	(202,000)	(228,000)	(10,000)
Repurchase of common stock	(12,449)	0	(8,007)
Dividends paid on common stock	(95,044)	(86,376)	(78,844)
Other financing	(2,519)	(4,224)	(278)
Net cash used in financing activities	(72,888)	(107,838)	(96,497)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	15,767	(2,364)	(62,556)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	28,656	31,020	93,576
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	44,423	28,656	31,020
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	74,515	77,296	80,823
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	15,286	(47,374)	(624)
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Issuance of common stock - ESPP	220	318	340
Cleco Corporation [Member]
Operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	108,754	159,430	79,606
Investing activities
Contributions to tax credit fund	(55,315)	(51,011)	(59,645)
Return of equity investment in tax credit fund	2,579	1,619	37,652
Other investing	(2,831)	(3,705)	(2,973)
Net cash used in investing activities	(55,567)	(53,097)	(24,966)
Financing activities
Draws on credit facility	97,000	48,000	25,000
Payments on credit facility	(45,000)	(68,000)	(10,000)
Repurchase of common stock	(12,449)	0	(8,007)
Dividends paid on common stock	(95,044)	(86,376)	(78,844)
Other financing	0	0	1,987
Net cash used in financing activities	(55,493)	(106,376)	(69,864)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(2,306)	(43)	(15,224)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	7,375	7,418	22,642
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	5,069	7,375	7,418
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	189	217	95
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	15,013	(46,928)	59
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Issuance of common stock - ESPP	220	318	340
Non-cash contribution to subsidiary, net of tax	142,880	0	0
Non-cash distribution from subsidiary, net of tax	$ 138,080	$ 0	$ 0